Cost of Living Comparison Between Diego Martin and Arima Cost of Living Comparison Between Diego Martin and Arima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,365 per month in Diego Martin vs $1,258 in Arima, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,323 per month in Diego Martin vs $2,135 in Arima, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,282 per month in Diego Martin vs $3,012 in Arima, rent included.

Diego Martin costs about 9% more than Arima, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Diego Martin and Arima are more affordable than the global median – Diego Martin 1% lower, Arima 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.14 TTD 68.4

$10.23 TTD 69.0

-0.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 TTD 608

$74.7 TTD 504

20.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.91 TTD 60.1

$8.92 TTD 60.1

-0.11%

Cappuccino

$3.81 TTD 25.67

$3.66 TTD 24.66

4.10%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 TTD 7.86

$1.04 TTD 6.98

12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 TTD 4.90

$0.71 TTD 4.80

2.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 TTD 15.07

$1.85 TTD 12.48

21.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 TTD 19.32

$2.99 TTD 20.16

-4.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.47 TTD 16.66

$2.45 TTD 16.52

0.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 TTD 15.68

$2.40 TTD 16.20

-2.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.94 TTD 19.79

$2.78 TTD 18.72

5.76%

Eggs

$4.26 TTD 28.73

$4.37 TTD 29.47

-2.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.69 TTD 45.10

$6.80 TTD 45.85

-1.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.26 TTD 69.2

$6.35 TTD 42.78

61.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.05 TTD 61.0

$8.70 TTD 58.7

4.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 TTD 36.35

$5.53 TTD 37.30

-2.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.44 TTD 16.45

$2.20 TTD 14.85

10.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.60 TTD 24.29

$3.72 TTD 25.07

-3.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.26 TTD 28.74

$5.03 TTD 33.89

-15.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 TTD 5.16

$1.34 TTD 9.01

-42.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 TTD 5.16

$0.96 TTD 6.46

-19.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 TTD 9.69

$1.34 TTD 9.05

7.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 TTD 8.13

$0.91 TTD 6.15

32.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.57 TTD 37.54

$4.78 TTD 32.22

16.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.70 TTD 119

$18.79 TTD 127

-5.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 TTD 10.10

$1.84 TTD 12.39

-18.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 TTD 20.15

$2.99 TTD 20.19

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 TTD 5.83

$1.02 TTD 6.85

-14.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.4 TTD 488

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.00 TTD 6.76

$0.70 TTD 4.75

42.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 TTD 5.69

$0.75 TTD 5.09

12.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.65 TTD 98.8

$14.47 TTD 97.5

1.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 TTD 7.89

$1.16 TTD 7.80

0.86%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$15.0K TTD 101.1K

$27.7K TTD 186.9K

-45.93%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$41.2K TTD 277.8K

$36.3K TTD 244.7K

13.51%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$45.02 TTD 304

$92.2 TTD 622

-51.19%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$41.64 TTD 281

$44.61 TTD 301

-6.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.93 TTD 303

$56.0 TTD 377

-19.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.34 TTD 299

$51.3 TTD 346

-13.62%

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 TTD 59.8

$8.81 TTD 59.4

0.68%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$396 TTD 2,667

$174 TTD 1,176

126.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K TTD 72.5K

$11.0K TTD 74.2K

-2.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 TTD 363

$62.8 TTD 424

-14.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.95 TTD 249

$44.36 TTD 299

-16.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.0 TTD 593

$144 TTD 970

-38.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.2 TTD 602

$75.0 TTD 506

18.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$665 TTD 4,484

$526 TTD 3,543

26.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$440 TTD 2,969

$369 TTD 2,488

19.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,461 TTD 9,852

$1,046 TTD 7,055

39.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$954 TTD 6,433

$889 TTD 5,995

7.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,802 TTD 12.1K

$1,187 TTD 8,000

51.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Diego Martin: September 6, 2026

Last update for Arima: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $665 in Diego Martin versus $526 in Arima. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 52% higher in Diego Martin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Diego Martin versus $75.0 in Arima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $326 vs $311 – making Arima the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Diego Martin vs Arima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Diego Martin costs about 9% more than Arima, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,047 per month in Diego Martin and $1,886 in Arima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arima, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,365 in Diego Martin and $1,258 in Arima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $396 per month in Diego Martin and $174 in Arima. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Arima, where all-in costs run around $1,258, than in Diego Martin at $1,365. In Arima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Diego Martin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Arima – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Arima. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Diego Martin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.